Bracing for cars.



M. C. BLEST.

BRACING FOR CARS. 1,262,301. APPLlcAlo man MAY 24. ma. Patentd Apr.9,1918- QXWCwQ/aom E mj M. C. BLEST.

BRACINGv FOR CARS.

APPucATmNy FILED MAY 24,1916.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Wal' MENGE C. BREST, F BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR'E0 PRESSED STEEL C COMPANY, 0F 'PET'.E'SBUEGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ACOEPORTEGN 0F NEW JE BCM@ FR. GARS.

Specification of Letters Eateat.

Patented Apr.. 9, l.

Application led may 24, 191e. Serial Ito.- 99,633.

To all whom t may concern.'

18e it known that l, Minor C; BnEs'r, a citlzen of the United States,residing at No. 622 Orchard avenue, Bellevue, in the'.

et' which the following is a specification.

Heretoore in box cars, and more particularly that type of box car inwhich the ends are wholly or largely composed of doors, no provision hasbeen made for bracing the ody of 'the car against distortion, which maybe caused by running the car over nnoven track, or by heavy serviceshocks L which a car is subjected, and an object of the invention is toprovide means for bracing the bodies of such cars against distortion. f

In the ordinary lbox car the ends of the body may be strengthened bypermanent vertical, transverse or diagonal bracing which may preventundue distortion of the body as a whole, but in a box carwhere the endof the car is provided with-a lar e door opening, for facilitating theloadlng of automobiles, etc., suitable permanent vertical transverse ordiagonal bracing cannot be used without obstructing the door opening.The only end framing in this type of car is the door frame which onaccount of its construction cannot without additional bracing'preventdistortion of the body. The large end doors for closing the door openingdo to a certain extent brace the end of the body, but it has beenobserved that the distortion of the body has been so great in many casesas to `cause open spaces between the doors and the door frame, thusallowing rain, dust, cinders, etc., to enter the car, or prevent theproper and easy closing and opening ofl the doors.

An object of the invention is to provide bracing means, which whenapplied to a car body and especially to that type of car body having ,alarge end door opening, will brace the body against distortion and willelimi` vide an adjustable bracing means `for car bodies.

Another object of the invention is to pro- `vide a car bod end braceembodying mechanilsm adapte to putsaid brace in tension when in itsnormal position in the car.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference characters referto like parts, Fire 1 is a cross sectional view of a car em dyingtheinvention; Fig. 2 is a plan View of a portion of the car, the end platebein removed to more clearly illustrate thev invention; Fig. 3 is asectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and Figs, 4, 5 and 6are enlarged detail views of portions of-the end brace. Referring now indetail to the drawings, 1v indicates the underframe which may be of anydesired construction, and may comprise a center sill 2 and side sills 3which may be connected by the usual cross members (not shown).

The superstructure ofthe car may be of vany suitable construction, andmay be provided with a ioor 4 and side walls 5 which walls may besecured to the usual side framing members (not shown). At the topportions of the side walls, side plates 6 may be provided which may beconnected together at their ends by an end plate 7.

At the end of the car body posts 8 are provided which at their lowerends are suitably connected with the underframe, and at their upper ends.are connected together by a transverse member 9 through the medium ofgusset plates 10. The upper end portion of each of these posts 8 may beconnected with one of the side plates 6. The posts 8 and the transversemember 9 define an opening in tbe end portion of the car body,

which openingis closed by doors 11 hinged tothe end portion o-the car.No locking means for the doors has been shown in the drawings, but itwill be understood that any suitable means may be provided.

At the end of the car body, and preferably within such body, braces 12are provided which at their lower ends are provided with threaded socketmembers 13 which arev pivotally connected with the members 14 secured tothe lower end portions of theposts 8. These braces extend across thedoor opening and at their upperends are with threaded socket members 15w ich are ice rovided pivotally connected with the members 16 securedtothe upper end portiOnS of the posts 8. Each of these braces 12preferably comprises parts 17 and 18 and a t 1ghten1ng device 19. rllhelower end portion of the part 17 is preferably formed with spacedportions 20 in which slots 21 are formed, and the upper end portion ofthe part 18 has formed therein an eye 22. The upper end portion of thepart 17 is provided with screw threads and 1s screwed in the threadedportion ofthe socket member 15, and the lower end portion of the part 18is provided with screw threads and is screwed in the threaded portion ofthe socket member 13, thus roviding means whereby the length of the'race may be adjusted. rihe threaded end of each of the parts 17 and 18are provided with threaded nuts 23, which, when it is desired to holdthese parts in any adjusted position, may be turned to contact with thesocket members 13 and 15. The tightening device 19 comprises a yoke 24having a hook 25 adapted to engage the eye portion 22 `of the part 18.The side portions 26 of this yoke are provided with slots 27 and areadapted to overlap the lower end portions of the part 17 and areadjustably 'connected with the portions 2O of such part by bolts 28 and29, which are passed through the slots 21 and 27, and held againstlongitudinal movement by nuts 30, or other suitable means. rl`he bolt 28is adapted to contact with the yoke 24 at the end of the slots 27 and isadapted to move freely in the slots 21 of the part 17 while the bolt 29is adapted to contact with the part 17 at the end vof the slots 21 andis adapted to move freely in the slots 27 of the yoke, thus permittingfree relative movement between the part 17 and the yoke 24. Between thespaced portions 20 of the part 17 the bolt29 is provided with a roller31 which may rotate freely on the bolt and at the same time keep theportions 20 spaced apart.

l'.lhis'tightening device also comprises a lever 32, which at one end issuitably mounted on the bolt 28, and is provided with a cam surface 33,which is adapted to contact with the roller 31 mounted on the bolt 29.At the other end this lever is provided with a hand portion 34 formedwith spacedportions 35,

the use of which will hereinafter be more fully described.` When thelever is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Figf, thecam surface 33 contacts with thev roller 31 and forces the bolt 29 inthe direct1on lndicated by the arrow B in Fig. 5 into contact with theparts 20 at the ends of the slots 21 and sets up tension in the part 17,

and at the same time causes thebolt 28 to move in the directionindicated by the arrow C 1n Fig. 5 into contactl with the yoke 24 at theend of the slots 27, thus setting up tension in the part 18. lt will beunderstood that if desired the roller 31 may be dispensed with and thatthe cam surface may contact directly with the bolt 29. At the end of theincassi Aiicient dlstance past the same to permit of the insertion of apin 36 or other suitable means, to hold the lever against accidentalmovement. When the tightening devices are released from the e e portionsof the parts 18, theJ parts 17 an the tightening devices will swing bygravity to substantially vertical' positions of rest substantially clearof the door opening, and the parts 18 are then swung to a positionsubstantially clear of the door opening as shown in dotted lines in Fig.1, and are held in such positions by latches 37 or other suitable meanssecured to the car body.

lnthe foregoing description the bolts 28 and 29 have both been describedas being capable of movement when the braces are being tightened, but itis to be understood that one of these bolts may remain substantiallystationary and that the other bolt may be moved when the brace is beingtightened, and it is also to be understood that instead of attaching thelower ends of the braces to the posts 8, they may be attached to any`other suitable member of the car body or underframe.

Although the bracing means has been described as being applied to theend of the body, it will be understood that it may be applied at anydesiredpoint or points intermediate the ends of the car.

l do not wish to be limited to the exa-ct construction of the car or thebrace, as described in the specification, for it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that manychanges may be made without departing frm the spirit and scope of theinvention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what l desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. ln a car, the combination with the body having a door opening formedin its end, of bracesconnected with said body adapted to extend acrosssaid door opening when in operative position and adapted to be moved.

substantially clear of said opening when in inoperative position.

2. A- car body having a door opening formed in its end, and bracesconnected with in operative position, and adapted to be -swungsubstantially clear of said opening 5: A car having a door openingformed j in its end, and means connected with said car adapted to extendacross said opening and counteract distortion of the car body when inoperative position, said means being movable from said opening toinoperative position near the sides of said car.

6. A car body having a door opening formed in its end, braces arrangedwithin said body adapted to counteract distortion of the car body, saidbraces extending diagonally across said opening when in operativepositions and being movable to inoperative positions clear of saidopening.

7. A car body having a door opening formed in its end, and bracesarranged within said body adapted to draw and hold said body in normalcondition, said braces when in operative position extending across saidopening, and when in inoperative position being substantially outside ofthe lines of said opening.

8. in a car, the combination with the body thereof, of a brace extendingacross said body, said brace comprising a plurality of parts, said partsbeing movable to inoperative positions near the sides of said body, anda latch adapted to hold one vof said parts in inoperative position.

9. ln a car, the combination with the body thereof, of a brace adaptedto extend across said body, said brace comprising a plurality of partsmovable to inoperative positions near the sides ofsaid body, and a latchadapted to engage and hold one of said parts in 'inoperative position,the othery of said parts being held in inoperative position by gravity.

10. A car having a superstructure framing, braces extending diagonallyacross said body when in operative position, each of. said braces beingconnected to the top'po'r` tion of said framing at one side of the carand to the bottom portion of the framing at the opposite side of thecar, said braces crossing each other intermediate their ends and movableto inoperative positions near the sides of said body.

11. A car body ofy box form, adjustable braces secured to said body,each 'of said braces extending diagonally. from an upper corner of saidbody to a, lower corner of 'said body and adapted to draw and hold saidbody in normal condition, said braces being movable to inoperativepositions near the sides of said body.

12. car body of box form, bracessecured to said bodyv and extendingdiagonally` in opposite directions, each of said braces extending froman upper4 corner of said body to a lower corner thereof when inoperative positions, said braces being movable to inoperative of saidbody. y

13. A car body of box form having a door opening formed in its end,bracessecured to said body extending diagonally across said opening inopposite directions, each of positions near the sides said bracesextending from an vupper corner of the body to a. lower corner of thebody l and adapted to counteract distortion of the body, said bracesbeing movable to positions clear of said opening. l v

1d. A car body having a door opening in its end, framing defining saidopening, a brace connected at one end to one of the upper corners ofsaid framing'and connected at its other end to one of the lower cornersof said framing, said brace extending diago.

nally across said opening when in operative `position and being movableto inoperative position near the sides of the car clear of said opening.

v15. A car body having a door opening formed in its end, framing deningsaid opening, braces secured to said framing and extending diagonallyacross said opening in opposite directions when in operative polsitions, each of said braces comprising upper and lower parts, saidylower part being movable to inoperative position near one of the sidewalls of said body and said upper part being movable to inoperativeposition able to a' position substantially clear of the" space inside ofsaid body. v

1'?.y In a car, the Acombination with. the body thereof, of bracesextending from the upper corners of the body diagonally to the lowercorners of the body when in operative positions, each of said bracescomprising a plurality Vof parts vmovable to ,inoperative` positionssubstantially clear of the space within said bod .i v

18. A car body;7 having a door opening in its end, framing defining saidopening, said framing comprising end posts, braces extending diagonallyacross said opening when in operative positions and each. connected.

with the top' portion-of oneA of said posts 'and with the lower portionof the opposite post, said braces being movableto inoperative positionsclear of said opemn in opposite directions,

19. A car body of box form, races secured to said body and extendingdiagonally each of said braces extending from an upper corner of saidbody to a lower corner thereof when in operative positions and beingmovable o inoperative posltions near ,the sides of said body, each ofsaid braces comprlslng a plurality of parts attached to said body, ayoke carried by one of said parts adapted to engage the other of saidparts, means between said yoke and first mentioned part for tighteningsaid brace, and means for automatically locking said brace in operativeposition. ,t

20. A car body of box form, braces secured to said body and extendingdiagonally in opposite directions, each of said braces extending from anupper cornerv of said body to a lower corner thereof when in op erativepositions and being movable to inoprative. positions near the sides ofsaid bo y, rality of parts, one of said parts having slots formedtherein, a yoke for operatively connecting said parts, said yoke havingslots formed therein, a member extending through the slots in said partand yoke, and a lever on said yoke adapted to engage said member toadjust the edective length of said brace.

21. A car body of box form, braces secured to said body and extendingdiagonally in op osite directions, each of said braces exten ing from anupper corner of said body to a lower corner thereof when in operativepositions andv being movable to inoperative positions near the sides ofsaid body,

each of said braces comprising a plurality of parts, amember looselyconnected with one of said parts adapted to removably engage the otherof said parts, and means for shortening the e'ective length of saidbrace.

22. A car body of box form, braces se. cured to said body and extendingdiagonally in opposite directions, each of said braces extending from anupper corner of said body to a lower kcorner operative positions andbeing movablp to operative positions near the sides of said body, eachof said braces comprising a plurality of movable parts, a yoke looselymounted on one of said parts adapted to movably en age the other of saidparts, a lever carried by said yoke, said lever having a notched camsurface adapted to engage said part to adjust the e'ective length ofsaid brace and automatically lock said brace in operative position.

23. A car body of box form, braces sei cured to said body and extendingdiagonally in opposite directions9 each of said braces extending from anupper corner of said l"yoke, an

each of said braces comprising a plu-4 thereof` when in- `natantioperative positions and being movable to inoperative positions near thesides of said body, each of said braces comprising a pluautomaticallyconnecting saidk parts, said yoke havin slots formed therein, a memberextending t rough the slotsin said part and a lever on said yoke adaptedto engage said member to adjust the edective length of said brace, saidlever having a notch formed therein adapted to receive said member toautomatically lock said brace in operative position.

24. A car body of box form, braces se- .body to a lower'corner thereofwhen in v cured to said body and extending diagonally in oppositedirections, each of said braces extending from an upper corner of saidbodyto a lower corner thereof when in operative positions and beingImovable to f moperative positions near the sldes of Said body, each ofsaid braces comprising a plurality of parts, a yoke carried by one oflsaid parts and having a hooked portion adapted to engage the other ofsaid partsa` lever' operatively carried by said yoke, a member carriedbyy said first mentioned part, and means on said lever adapted tocontact with and -move said member to tighten said brace when inoperative position.

25. Ay car body of box form, braces secured to said body and extendingdiagonally in opposite directions, each of said braces extending from anupper corner of said body to a. .lower corner thereof when in operativepositions and being movable to inoperative positions near the sides ofsaid body, each of said braces com rising a plurality of parts, a yokecarried y one of said parts adapted toengage the other of said parts, alever operatively carried by said yoke, and means between said lever andsaid irst mentionedgpart for tightening said brace in operativeposition. i

26. A car body of box form, braces secured to said body and extendingdiagonally body to a lower corner thereof when in operative positionsand being movable to in opposite directions, each of said braces.extending from an upper'corner of said portion adapted to engage theother of said n parts, and means between said first mentioned part andsaid member for shortening the eective length-of said brace when inoperative position.

27. In car having a door opening formed in its end, side walls, abraceextendin diagonall across the space between said walls and acrossAsaid door opening, said brace being movable to inoperative position nearthe side walls and clear of said door opening. l

28. In a car, the combination with the body thereof having a dooropening formed 5 in its end, a brace extending diagonally across saidbody and. across said door opening, said brace comprising a plurality ofpivotally mounted parts ladapted. to be moved to inoperative positionsnear the sides 10 of said body and clear of said door opening. 29. In acar, the combination with the body thereof having a door opening formedin its end, of a brace extending across said door opening, said bracecomprising a plurality of parts movable to inoperative posi- E@ tionsnear the sides of said body and clear of said door opening.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MINOT o. BLEST.

Witnesses:

FRANK E. Mum, HERBERT M. BENDER.

